What to Expect When You Work With Lucina Rising BirthWork for Birth Doula Support
In this blog, you’ll learn what it means to work with a group of doulas, our prenatal time together, how we support you during our on-call period, and our postpartum visits.
Welcoming a baby into the world is a transformative journey and we're honored to walk alongside you every step of the way. Whether you’re reaching out for the first time or returning to refresh your memory, here’s a clear look at how our process works from the moment you inquire to the time you're home with your newborn.
Step 1: Send us an Inquiry
It all starts when you visit our website and send us a quick inquiry. This lets us know you’re interested in doula support and gives us a sense of your due date and needs.
Step 2: Book Your Free Intro Call
After we receive your inquiry, we’ll follow up with an email that includes a link to schedule a free 15-minute introductory Zoom or phone call.
This call gives you the chance to ask questions and get a full overview of how we work. It’s an easy, no-pressure way to get to know us and see if we’re a good fit for your journey.
Step 3: Meet the Doulas
After the intro call, we’ll follow up with an email which will include a list of doulas who are available for your due date. You’ll be able to read their bios and learn more about their personalities, experience, and approach.
You can then let us know which doula(s) you’d like to meet with, and we’ll schedule a 30-minute Zoom call with each one. This is your chance to ask deeper questions and feel who you naturally connect with. Once you have connected with the doulas, you will pick who you want your primary doula to be.
Step 4: Prenatal Support Begins
Once you’ve selected your primary doula, they’ll become your main point of contact moving forward. Your doula will guide you through prenatal preparation, answer questions, and support your emotional, physical, and mental well being.
At this stage, we’ll also send you access to our exclusive client resources, which includes handouts, guides, and helpful tools. You can access these anytime by logging into your private client portal.
At 37 weeks of pregnancy, your doula officially goes on-call for you. That means she begins preparing to be available at any moment, keeping her schedule flexible and her phone close since babies can arrive anytime between 37 and 42 weeks. (Don’t worry, if babe chooses to arrive early, we will arrange support for you and likely it will be your primary doula still, but sometimes may be a great fit of someone else from our team. We know babies have their own plan and we are here to support you!)
Step 5: Labor and Birth
When it’s time to give birth, your primary doula will be there to support you in person throughout labor and delivery.
Your doula will be available for over the phone support all through your early labor. They can help you know if this is labor or not, encourage you to rest, give ideas for good labor positions to be using, and be a great point of check in as you wait for labor to ramp up.
Once your labor picks up and you call your doula to come join you, we ask that you allow up to two hours for them to arrive. This allows time for them to gather their things, navigate traffic, and get fully situated. Most doulas arrive much sooner—but we set this window to help everyone feel calm, prepared, and on the same page.
Because birth can be unpredictable, we work as a team to ensure you’re never without support:
If your primary doula is unavailable due to illness, an emergency, your birth is outside of our contracted on call time, or another birth, a backup doula from our trusted team will step in.
If your birth is long and your doula needs to rest, she may arrange for a backup doula to relieve her so you’re continuously supported by someone who’s rested and ready.
The backup doula may be someone you’ve already connected with during the meet-and-greet stage, or someone whose bio you’ve read and feel familiar with through our website. Either way, your primary doula will always make sure you’re kept in the loop. She’ll communicate with you before calling in a backup, and you’ll be given the chance to get acquainted or reconnect with the backup doula so you know exactly who will be supporting you.
Our goal is to ensure that every hand you hold during labor is one you trust, and that no doula ever shows up at your birth without your knowledge or consent. Even when backup support is needed you're still in control and still surrounded by care you feel good about.
We stay with you until between 1-2 hours after your birth to make sure you are feeling good, to help with babe’s first feed, to be sure you have food headed your way, and that you’re all tucked in before we leave.
Step 6: Postpartum Visit
After your birth, once you’re home and settling in, your primary doula will schedule a postpartum visit. This visit is a time to reflect, ask questions, process your birth story, and receive additional resources and emotional support.
If a backup doula supported you at any point during labor, they may join this visit as well so that your care feels continuous, cohesive, and complete.
You Deserve Continuous, Compassionate Support
At Lucina Rising BirthWork, we believe that birth is sacred and that every family deserves to feel held, respected, and informed. Our group model allows for consistent support, deep connection, and the peace of mind that you are never alone.
We’re honored to be part of your journey.
If you’re ready to begin, send us an inquiry here—we can’t wait to meet you!
